small school expectations?

[smiley21]

Originally posted by erica812
I graduated from a school with fewer than 1100 students. I loved it!! Whenever I talk to kids looking into colleges, I highly recommend the small school setting. It was fantastic! But it is impossible to hide

Erica

actually i just remember the high school i graduated from had a tiny bible college on campus. i am talking between 100 and 200 students. it was insane. it didnt help that they had the most ridiculous rules in college history. i dont even want to go there. the small population meant that there was nothing you can do to get away from the authority. you had to be really sneaky.

[smiley21]

Originally posted by PreppyGirl
I also go to a pretty small school (just a few hundred more people than my high school) and I LOVE it! I don't quite understand what you mean by saying that it is impersonal.

i was talking in terms of privacy or invasion of personal space. it is just something that would freak me out having nearly the whole campus knowing who i am.

[KappaKittyCat]

I love my small school because I actually know my professors: I babysit for them, they invite me over for dinner-- I even got a birthday card from my advisor! There's no such thing as a TA because Lawrence is a teaching college. It does feel small and confining sometimes, but the academic experience is well worth it. Besides, I feel more comfortable in a place where I know everybody, at least by sight.

[Little E]

I go to Beloit, (very similiar to Lawrence and the rest of the ACMs) and I know everyone. There is no better way to get stuff done than to know the people who delegate jobs. We had this horrible bushes in front of our house when they had removed them from all over campus for security reasons they left ours for some reason. We called the head of grounds and they are gone already!

The only TA I had was in Geo Lab and his job was to drive the van and answer a few questions, it was a big class (25) and the prof wanted more help cause not too many of the students were actually geo people.

There is something comfortable about walking across campus saying hi to the Pres, Vp of whatever and most of your profs. You see people, they are accessible and they actually know your name and care. I woudln't trade it for anything, (despite the gossip and crap that does come along w/knowing everyone.) Granted it isn't for everyone, but it can be a wonderful experience!

[33girl]

Originally posted by Little E
I go to Beloit, (very similiar to Lawrence and the rest of the ACMs)

DUHHH, what's an ACM?

[Not a Mezzo]

I don't go to a small school...more middle-sized, really...but we only have 5 NPC sororities on campus, and Greek life isn't really that big, even though we ARE a southern school.

The biggest and most important thing has already been said, but it can't be said enough: Keep an open mind! There were lots of rumors and stereotypes about the 5 groups here, and since I waited a year to go through recruitment, I was pretty familiar with all of them. I was determined I wanted one or two groups, and didn't even wanna think about another two. I knew their "reputation" and didn't want any part of it. However, those two taboo groups happened to be the two at which I felt most comfortable (needless to say, the "reputations" couldn't have been more wrong about these wonderful chapters!). I preffed both and ended up going Phi Mu, when I just KNEW going into the week that I'd never, ever do anything so pink and girly!!!

So yeah, rumors suck. But you get to know the Greek community really really really well (since you know everyone at a small school really well to begin with). I can recognize pretty much everyone in the other four groups, or at least have a good idea of who they are. It makes for an even more special, intimate Greek experience.

Anyway, good luck with recruitment! You've got great groups to choose from and you're prepared. Have fun, cuz that's what it's all about!!

[trisigmaAtl]

my school has about 950 undergrad and maybe 50 grad students (we only have an MBA and EDU program). It is smaller than my high school and very tightly knit. We have three NPC sororites ( Tri Sigma, Chi Omega, and AST) and four Fraternities (Chi Phi, KA, SAE, and Delta Sigma Phi). We're in the south, but our rush isn't competetive in the southern way. You don't need recs or worry as much about clothes, or really expect to get cut before pref at all. Heavy cuts aren't really made because awesome girls always go through and because with only three choices if a onm gets cut by the one house she loves, she usually drops out it is our panhellenic's hope that we get more girls to stick through the whole week this year. There is always a little competietion over the same girls. Last year quota was ten, maybe this year it will be 15! (cross your fingers).

[Little E]

sorry,
ACM is the Associated Colleges of the Mid-west. it is all small lib arts schools, ie lawrence, carroll, beloit, Knox, Grinell, Monmouth, Ripon, St. Norbert etc. think of like the Big 10 or some other 'conference' and that is what it is, except all the schools are tiny

(if you're not from the mid-west, you've probably never heard of these schools )

[AllyPNM]

I really appreciate everyone's input and advice. My nerves are alleviated and I can't wait! I PROMISE to keep my ear's closed from the rumors and my mind open to all the groups during recruitment! I'll start my Rush Thread in a few weeks when it gets closer.
And for choosing a small school... they aren't for everyone, but I was sold on the class sizes and friendliness (sp?).
~*~AllyPNM~*~

[ZTAMich]

Originally posted by smiley21
that is wild. a college only having 1200 students? that is like high school. does everyone know everyone else? it seems so impersonal. also with 4 sororities? wow!

It actually is a great thing...a lot of personal attention by professors and admin. A history prof I had first semester freshman year for an into class (of only 30students maybe) still remembered my name, first and last, senior year. NO TA's ever at my classes...and I think 30 was the max ever in any of my classes. Moravian has about 1100 students.


Ally...my campus has 4 NPC sororities as well and rush is still in the process of getting bigger and better. Ours is held in the Winter, which is always fun in Pa. I think an advantage that a small school has is smaller chapters. I met ALL the sisters during my rush weekend and the next year as a member met close to every PNM going through the process as well. It looks like you have a great mindset going into rush, SUCH a great thing. Feel free to PM me if you have any small school rush questions!!

[Glitter650]

I can see the benefits of a small college... BUT going to a larger school doesn't really mean that you would know everybody.. I mean my high school had around 18-- people at it and I certainly didn't know EVERYONE.... I knew my class... but certainly not EVERYONE... but that may be different at a college where you're living there... also it's possible to get to know your profs at larger school.. it just takes some effort on your part... My school has 20, 000 people, and maybe it's just my department or something..but I can safely say that *almost* every professor I've had in my major knows me and I would feel comfortable asking for recs for grad school or whatever and they would know stuff about me to write a fairly personal one. They may not invite us over to their homes or send cards... but they know who I am. Both larger and smaller schools have their benefits. Ally GOOD LUCK sounds like even though greek life is small... it's pretty popular at your school so have a good time and it seems to me (of course I can't guarentee anything not knowing you or your school) you don't have much to worry about in not getting a bid at all coming from a small greek system... I think as long as you keep your options open and attend all the parties you can you will find a home

[Natty]

I go to an extremely small school and I am incredibly happy here. I go to school in Maine. It is a state school right on the coast, we are the easternmost university in the US. There are about 350 of us who live on campus and another 1000 who commute. I know just about everyone and all the Professors in all departments. It is great! I now go to a school with less people then my High School.
Ally good luck!
We have a total of 8 Fraternities and Sororities on campus.

Nat

[DZHBrown]

Good luck, AllyPNM! I went to a small school my first two years and it was a nice atmosphere. At the time, we didn't have sororities, but they do now and they all seem very close!

[SororgrlADPi]

Ally~

I too want to wish you good luck! I just graduated in May from a small private liberal arts school (pop. 1130). I loved my four years there. My alma matter sounds similar to yours in that there were four NPC groups represented. Recruitment for small schools can be competitive, but if you keep and open mind, follow our heart and as everyone else has said "ignore the rumors" you can't go wrong.

Have fun during recruitment and just be yourself. I know you will find a home!

Fraternally,

SororgrlADPi

[Buttonz]

Good luck!